Transnet needs R12bn, five years to revive coal export line

Transnet needs R12.2 billion and five years to upgrade equipment to revive performance of its main export coal line, according to an internal report.

Coal shipments plunged to a more than three-decade low of 48 million tons last year because of inefficiencies at Transnet, which blamed lack of locomotives and spare parts for its woes. The two other major factors limiting the amount of the fuel shipped to the coast for export are infrastructure faults and issues with signaling systems, according to a final executive summary report seen by Bloomberg.

The “conservative” export coal forecast for the financial year is 54 million tons, the company said in a response to questions, confirming the report. “All remedial actions are aimed at achieving a 78-million-ton tempo,” it said.

A “do-nothing” approach could result in volumes transported on the line that runs from inland mines to Richards Bay Coal Terminal, the largest facility of its kind on the continent, dropping to as low as 38 million tons for the current financial year, the document dated July 12 and co-authored by logistics companies Thelo Group and Deutsche Bahn AG showed.

Network faults that cause disruptions and manual authorisations resulting in delays result in greater losses than the unavailability of rolling stock, according to the report. Theft and vandalism of equipment and signals have also contributed to losses.

Transnet said measures to improve the line are already underway and the company recently finished a 10-day maintenance operation that “managed to address some of the key network constraints.” The unavailability of China’s state-owned CRRC Corp locomotives, which is not covered by the report, “continues to be the biggest hindrance to performance,” the company said.

South Africa’s erstwhile Department of Public Enterprises Minister Pravin Gordhan last year failed to resolve an impasse with China that’s held up delivery of the locomotives and parts.

Thelo declined to comment “for professional reasons and because of confidentiality undertakings,” according to an external spokeswoman. Deutsche Bahn didn’t respond to an email seeking comment.

Repairing and upgrading signals, telecommunications and other infrastructure at a cost of R12.2 billion ($669 million) over the five-year period could chart a recovery to 78 million tons in five years, according to the report.